It’s been less than a week since a massive natural gas explosion rocked the city of Springfield to its core and reduced Score’s Gentlemen’s Club at 453 Worthington St. to a pile of rubble.

The blast, which took place the Friday after Thanksgiving at 5:30 p.m. – close to what on a normal week would be the commuting hour – miraculously took no lives. The explosion injured 21 people, displaced dozens of others who lived in the area, damaged as many as 40 buildings and forced several businesses to shut down.

In the wake of the explosion that could have claimed dozens of lives, there are many heroes to thank as we all wonder “what if.”

What if the commute home was in full swing? What if the children who attend nearby Square One day care center had not been home marking the Thanksgiving weekend holiday? Their parents pick them up around 5:30. What if the clubs just a block west of Score’s were filled with returning college students holding reunions with their hometown friends?

If not for the actions of officials at Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and police officers and firefighters, who had earlier evacuated the area in response to a underground gas leak, there surely would have been some fatalities.

We salute those first responders for helping move others to safety while they faced an uncertain and volatile situation.

We now know that the blast was caused by “human error.” The origins of the explosion have been attributed to a utility worker who punctured an underground gas line with a metal probing tool, according to the gas company.

Since the blast, Columbia Gas Co. has been doing all the right things. On Monday, 101 people came to a claims processing center set up by the company at City Hall where officials greeted residents with courtesy, compassion, aid and information.

Since last year's tornado, the city of Springfield has been no stranger to sudden disasters – from hurricanes to micro-bursts and from freak snowstorms to lengthy power outages. Throughout each new calamity, from the mayor’s office on down to the police and fire officials public servants have been there to help. As we contemplate what could have happened on Friday night, it’s a very comforting to know there are such dedicated professionals in our midst.